Given the outstanding depth at defensive tackle in the 2013 NFL Draft, there’s been plenty of speculation Dallas could use the 18th pick to find a Sapp-wannabe to bolster Kiffin’s efforts to transform the defense from a 3-4 look to a 4-3.

That’s good news for the Cowboys, who are thin at defensive tackle. In addition to Josh Brent being arrested for intoxication manslaughter in December, Jay Ratliff is in the dog house after an injury-plagued year that included a locker room dust-up with Jones and a DWI arrest last month.

“You can find defensive tackles well into the draft,” Kiper said. “You’re talking about 16 front seven players going in the first round and a lot of those guys are tackles.”

The draft is April 25-27. In addition to defensive tackle, Dallas has needs at the offensive line spots, defensive end, safety, linebacker, cornerback and receiver.

Free agency begins March 12, but a dicey salary cap situation likely will prevent the Cowboys from being players. Just to get under the $121 million cap, Dallas must make several moves, including restructuring deals, cutting veterans and possibly signing quarterback Tony Romo to an extension.

With that in mind, success in this draft is crucial for a team that’s finished 8-8 the last two seasons and hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2009. Fortunately for Dallas, there are plenty of defensive tackles in the draft that fit Kiffin’s scheme, which calls for linemen to penetrate the pocket rather than absorb blockers like they did in the 3-4.

“You take the fight to them with quickness,” said defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, Kiffin’s top lieutenant. “We’re not absorbing. We’re about getting up the field and attacking.”

Florida underclassman Sharrif Floyd would be a perfect fit for that approach.

“He’s the prototypical three-technique and he’s going to be a big-time impact player,” NFL.com draft analyst Mike Mayock said of Floyd, 6-foot-3, 303-pounds.

“What is most important about this kid is his explosion. He reminds me, and I’m not going to say he’s ever going to be Warren Sapp, but it’s that type of first-step explosion.”

But Kiper said Floyd’s stock “is skyrocketing up the draft board,” which means the Cowboys would have to trade up to have a shot at him.